New law paves way for more 'virtual schools'

Friday

Jan 4, 2013 at 5:59 PMJan 4, 2013 at 6:02 PM

Students across SouthCoast and the state could have more access to so-called “virtual” schools under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Deval Patrick that establishes a clear framework for the establishment of those schools.

CHARIS ANDERSON

Students across SouthCoast and the state could have more access to so-called “virtual” schools under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Deval Patrick that establishes a clear framework for the establishment of those schools.

A virtual school is one in which students are not required to be at a physical school, but instead take classes and interact with their teachers online or through other computer-based methods.

The new legislation, an Act Establishing Commonwealth Virtual Schools, creates a set of guidelines both for the approval and the operation of virtual schools, according to a press release from Patrick's office.

The act also directs the state's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop regulations governing the structure and oversight of virtual schools.

“We are committed to building a 21st century education system here in Massachusetts — one that meets each student where he or she is and delivers a high quality education in the format and setting that best suits that student's needs,” said Education Secretary Paul Reville in a statement.

“This bill allows us to further develop that 21st century system, while also ensuring the proper accountability and oversight of virtual schools to match our high standards for teaching and learning.”

Under the legislation, a range of entities, including a single school district, a partnership of two or more school districts, education collaboratives, and institutions of higher education, can apply to open virtual schools.

However, the bill mandates that no more than 10 virtual schools may operate at any one time in the state, and that no more than 2 percent of all students enrolled statewide can be enrolled full-time in a virtual school, according to the press release.

Three of those schools can be opened during school years 2013 to 2016, another three opened during the 2016 to 2019 school years, and the final four established for the 2019-2020 school year, the release stated.

(Virtual schools established by an individual district, partnership of districts, or an education collaborative that serve only their own students are exempt from that cap.)

Many of the details about how these schools will be regulated and overseen have yet to be finalized, but will be included in the regulations developed by the state education board, according to a spokeswoman for the executive office of education.

Massachusetts Virtual Academy, or MAVA, currently the state's only virtual school, was opened as an innovation school — small, autonomous schools that go through a local approval process — by the Greenfield school district.

That school will be granted one of the initial three virtual school certificates, according to the new legislation.

Under the new process, virtual schools can no longer be approved locally, but must go through the state approval process.

“I think it's a good idea to put some guidelines on this thing,” said Michael Shea, the city's interim superintendent of schools, who said he thought the virtual schools could be a good option for some students.

Shea said it made sense to talk to neighboring districts to see what they were doing regarding virtual education, and to see if the potential for a partnership existed.

“I think it's a good alternative or good supplement to the regular classroom,” he said.

He continued later: “I don't see it taking off fast, but I do see it taking off.”